---
title: Understanding ABSPATH at Pressable
url: "https://pressable.com/knowledgebase/abspath-and-pressable/"
published: 2019-09-19
modified: 2025-09-11
author: Wayne McWilliams
---

At Pressable, the WordPress Core files are symbolically linked to another location on the [platform](https://pressable.com/knowledgebase/service-platform-considerations/). In other words, they are not in the site root, as is the case with a standard WordPress install. Due to this, using `ABSPATH` to locate files in the site can result in errors.

## Understanding ABSPATH

```
<?phpvar_dump(ABSPATH);
```

Returns:

```
string(19) "/srv/htdocs/__wp__/"
```

## ABSPATH vs. WP\_CONTENT\_DIR

`ABSPATH` can be used when pointing to Core files, but it will not function correctly if used to locate files/folders within `wp-content`.

For example, the following on Pressable:

```
$target_path = ABSPATH . 'wp-content/plugins/order-tracking/order-sheets/';
```

Could become:

```
$target_path = WP_CONTENT_DIR . '/plugins/order-tracking/order-sheets/';
```

With `WP_CONTENT_DIR`, files/folders in the site root can be successfully accessed. Note that `ABSPATH` has a trailing slash, whereas `WP_CONTENT_DIR` does not.

## Create Your Own Constant

If you are trying to access the site root on Pressable in various parts of your code and you’d also prefer for the implementation to be less brittle and readily modifiable, we’d recommend the use of a PHP constant to define the site root:

```
define('PRESSABLE_SITE_ROOT', str_replace( 'wp-content', '', WP_CONTENT_DIR));
```

This would define `PRESSABLE_SITE_ROOT` as `/srv/htdocs/`, and it should also be usable on other hosting platforms:

```
$target_path = PRESSABLE_SITE_ROOT . 'wp-content/plugins/order-tracking/order-sheets/';
```

This constant could be placed in a plugin or a theme. It is not recommended to use this constant in `wp-config.php` because some hosting platforms often do not migrate `wp-config.php` or allow it to be modified.

## Paths in WP-Admin

While not preferable, if a plugin ever requires you to set an option for your site root via wp-admin, you should use the following path: `/srv/htdocs`

If you have questions about this please contact support.